This week we have been learning about Chinese New Year. Children in Ladywell Nursery have been sharing their knowledge of what they know about the Chinese New Year. We recorded our learning and knowledge in the floorbook using mark-making and children’s thoughts were scribed by a member of staff.

The children made Chinese Lanterns.  Children demonstrated good cutting skills and perseverance and were able to follow instructions given by an adult. When the lanterns were finished we displayed them in the nursery.

Children had the opportunity to have noodles and sweet and sour sauce for their snack. We used chop sticks to eat our noodles. Children enjoyed the snack and learning about how Chinese New Year is celebrated.

To find out more about the Chinese New Year and how people celebrate it. The children watched a dragon dance on the laptop.

We found out through researching on the internet that it was the year of the tiger. The children decided they would like to make tiger masks.

Children in Ladywell nursery have participated in some Robert Burns celebrations. We have been developing our fine motor skills during various weaving activities. Children have shown lots of perseverance and enjoyment throughout these activities. Well Done!

We then made the flag of Scotland, also know as the Saltire. Children demonstrated good listening skills and were able to follow instructions given by an adult.

Please help yourself to a paper copy on the notice board

Row Row Row Your Boat
Row row row your boat,
Gently down the stream,
Merrily merrily merrily merrily,
Life is such a dream.

Row row row your boat,
Gently down the stream,
If you see a crocodile,
Don’t forget to scream!

Five Jellyfish
Five jellyfish, five jellyfish, (hold up five fingers)
Five jellyfish sitting on a rock.

One jumps off! (fold one finger down)

Four jellyfish, four jellyfish… (hold up four fingers)

No jellyfish,
 no jellyfish,
No jellyfish sitting on a rock. (hold up one finger)
One jumped up! Hooray!

Once I Caught a Fish Alive
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, (raise one finger at a time until all five fingers on one hand are raised)
Once I caught a fish alive,
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, (raise fingers on your second hand one at a time)
Then I let him go again.
Why did you let him go?
Because he bit my finger so.
Which finger did he bite?
This little finger on my right. (wriggle right pinky finger)

I’m a Little Fish
(sung to the tune of I’m a Little Teapot)
I’m a little fish o, Watch me swim
Here is my tail,
And here is my fin.
When I want to have fun,
With my friends,
I swish my tail and dive right in.

The Waves in the Sea
(sung to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus)
The waves in the sea go,
Up and down, (make a rolling wave by moving one hand up and down)
Up and down,
Up and down,
The waves in the sea go,

Up and down,
All day long.

The Waves in the Sea
(sung to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus)
The waves in the sea go,
Up and down, (make a rolling wave by moving one hand up and down)
Up and down,
Up and down,
The waves in the sea go,
Up and down,
All day long.

The sharks in the sea go,
Snap, snap, snap… (hold two hands together, joined at the wrist, to form a mouth, snap open and shut)

The fish in the sea go,
Swish, swish, swish… (swim hands around as fish)

The crabs in the sea go
Click, click, click… (click fingers)

Fish Are Swimming
(sung to the tune of Frere Jacques)
Fish are swimming,
Fish are swimming,
In the sea, in the sea
Splishing and splashing
Splishing and splashing,
Look and see, look and see.

The Waves in the Sea
(sung to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus)
The waves in the sea go,
Up and down, (make a rolling wave by moving one hand up and down)
Up and down,
Up and down,
The waves in the sea go,
Up and down,
All day long.

The sharks in the sea go,
Snap, snap, snap… (hold two hands together, joined at the wrist, to form a mouth, snap open and shut)

The fish in the sea go,
Swish, swish, swish… (swim hands around as fish)

The crabs in the sea go
Click, click, click… (click fingers)

Fish Are Swimming
(sung to the tune of Frere Jacques)
Fish are swimming,
Fish are swimming,
In the sea, in the sea
Splishing and splashing
Splishing and splashing,
Look and see, look and see.

Five Cheeky Fish
(sung to the tune of Five Cheeky Monkeys)
Five cheeky fishes, (hold up five fingers, swim hand from side to side)
Swimming in the sea,
Teasing Mr Shark,
‘You can’t catch me-e,
You can’t catch me-e.’
Along comes Mr Shark (form shark with second hand)
As quiet as can be and
SNAP! (clap hands together)

This week in Inveralmond the children have developed an interest in ocean life.   Some children made a pond in the garden and discussed what animals would live in the pond.  We plan to explore this further and develop our knowledge and understanding of animals that live under the sea.

The children have been working hard on their gross motor skills such as balance, jumping and climbing using soft play equipment

We have been working hard on ordering numbers forward and back. 

Story and rhyme time

The Gruffalo’s Child by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

Week 2-describing words

brave    strong   long  short  tough  dark   light   wild  small  big  bad  terrible

Rhyme of the week

Are you finding your child’s behaviour difficult to manage?

Cut and paste the  links into your browser to the following websites that offer some positive parenting strategies

https://www.children1st.org.uk/help-for-families/parentline-scotland/guidance-advice/cat/understanding-behaviour

https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/leaflets/positive-parenting

https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/primary/behaviour/positive-discipline/

https://www.familycorner.co.uk/how-develop-your-childs-emotional-literacy

At nursery, within a nurturing environment we strive to offer calm consistent boundaries. We know that children reflect the tone and volume of our voices and our general manner so being positive, calm and consistent really pays off!

We recognise that all behaviour is communication and work hard at looking beyond the behaviour and trying to understand what the behaviour is telling us.

We offer daily opportunities to talk and listen to children about how they are feeling, acknowledging those feelings and chatting about ways to deal with the feelings in the right way. e.g. we have a sheet with small pictures of all the things they can do to help them feel better if they are sad, they include painting, running in the garden, asking for a story etc

These are some of the books we have used at nursery to help children develop their vocabulary relating to their feelings. You may well be able to find them at your library and, if not, ask the librarian to help you find something along the same lines.

Do not worry, you are not alone, no one ever said being a parent was easy!

Story time and rhyme time

The Gruffalo’s Child by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

Week 1-naming words

Gruffalo  child  mouse  cave  snake  owl  fox  whiskers  tail  eyes  moon  shadow

Rhyme Time

Humpty Dumpty

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall,

All the King’s horses and

All the King’s men,

Couldn’t put Humpty together again.

Maths Through Story

The children have been making full use of the garden this week

We have also been talking about different animals and where they come from.  We plan to learn more about this next week.

Story and rhyme time

24/1/22

Pip and Posy

The Snowy Day

Week 3 Action words

dress  undress  come  go  catch  throw  climb  slide  slide   shout   build   push  pull  fall  take  give

Rhyme time

Five little peas

This version has different words to the one we usually say but the actions are fun!

The more familiar words are

Five Little Peas

Five little peas in a pea pod pressed,

One grew, two grew,

So did all the rest.

They grew and grew and did not stop,

Until one day the pod went,

POP!

This week in Inveralmond the children have been enjoying lots of role play with dolls and soft toys.

The children have been learning to share and co-operate with their friends, sharing their personal experiences with children and adults and learning about the tasks required to look after babies.